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loganmedrano's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape
nini23's review against another edition
3.75
But let's talk about the writing, because it's beguiling. Some have described it as a lullaby. To me, it captures well that surreal cotton wool quality where something terrible has happened, fracturing into a 'before' and 'after' yet normal life still continues despite one feeling like dying inside. Accordingly, there is a dissociative quality to the writing, as well as used as a coping mechanism.
Sexual abuse of minors is an abhorrent crime and we see the effects of the damage effervesce in each of the boys as they grow up.
I see why there have been comparisons to A Little Life and it boils down to plausibility. Have choir boys been sexually abused? For sure. In fact, while Chee was going into detail about the Kyries (medieval profession of praise and love to God) the choir was singing, underlay there was the bitter ironical knowledge of the numerous cases of boys sexually abused by Catholic priests.
The section where Fee is in college doing drugs is when I started disengaging. The writing is still splinteringly beautiful but it's normal sophomore experiences.
If we continue with this analogy, this reader was left rather shell-shocked after finishing. I was in the same activities in secondary school and college (choir, swim team), Chee writes with inside knowledge. I liked the red hairs of Korean folklore and admire this particular strain of technical writing. My first Alexander Chee book and I am open to reading more.
Graphic: Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Homophobia, Drug use, and Alcohol
merandacree's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Grief, Pedophilia, Body horror, Gun violence, Blood, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
lisbethleftwich's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
julalbert56's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Self harm, Child abuse, Rape, Suicide, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Addiction and Racism
erlipman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship
sakisreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It is clear that the aftermath of abuse is horrific and hard to read about. I would not recommend this to anyone going on their own healing journey with abuse.
However, this book was written so beautifully. Even as Aphias (Fee) struggled through his life and the trials and tribulations of it, you could tell he had a certain vibrancy that kept him going.
I really grappled with this book, because with similar tones to My Dark Vanessa, it’s inconclusive ending felt as though it was cheating Fee out of something.
I’m giving this book 4 out of 5 stars ✨ Thank you!
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Pedophilia, and Self harm
emzireads's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
kmartro's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Pedophilia
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, and Drug abuse
Minor: Child death, Death, and Self harm
buttermellow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy and Racial slurs